UN human rights chief in Sudan looking for assurances regarding help

 

In anticipation of leaving the war-torn nation of east Africa, hundreds of foreigners and citizens of Sudan gathered at the port on Wednesday as the UN's humanitarian chief arrived.

The UN's emergency aid coordinator and under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Martin Griffiths, stated in a tweet that he had come to reaffirm the organization's commitment to the Sudanese people. On the final day of a tenuous truce that was set to end at midnight but hasn't stopped the fighting, he arrived at Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

As a result of a power struggle between the nation's two senior generals, there is also growing worry over the humanitarian situation for individuals trapped and displaced by the war. However, it is still unclear how UN organisations will continue to function in the midst of the upheaval with a small staff and supplies.

Thousands of UN employees were evacuated in a convoy to Port Sudan more than a week after the fierce fighting broke out in the nation's capital on April 15 in Khartoum. After two of its employees were killed during fighting in southern Sudan, some UN offices, including the World Food Programme, temporarily suspended operations. Since then, the WFP has declared that activities would restart.

After months of rising hostilities between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and a rival paramilitary organisation known as the Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the war for control of Sudan broke out.

Griffiths stated that he is looking for guarantees from the combatants for the safe delivery of humanitarian supplies at a virtual press conference from Port Sudan. He said that working in Sudan was "extremely difficult" in response to allegations that the UN wasn't doing enough. One third of the population of Sudan was dependent on humanitarian aid even before the violence broke out last month.

According to Griffiths, who singled out Darfur and Khartoum as particularly in need of relief, six World Food Programme trucks transporting supplies to the western area of Darfur were plundered on the way.

Griffiths stated in the online briefing that "it's not like we're asking for the moon." "We are requesting the transfer of aid workers and supplies. Even in nations where there are no cease-fires, we practise this.

Over 4,900 people have been injured so far, including 550 civilian deaths. According to UN agencies, the conflict has forced at least 334,000 people from their homes in Sudan and driven tens of thousands more to nearby Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Ethiopia.

Since the start of the crisis, 2,300 foreign nationals and more than 42,000 Sudanese refugees who were fleeing the civil war in their nation have entered Egypt. The dearth of essential amenities in these locations, as well as Port Sudan, roughly 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Khartoum, is causing aid workers growing anxiety.